(19)
(11) EP 1 650 101 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
07.06.2006 Bulletin 2006/23

(43) Date of publication A2:
26.04.2006 Bulletin 2006/17

(21) Application number: 05022881.6

(22) Date of filing: 20.10.2005
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B62D 1/28(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR MK YU

(30) Priority: 25.10.2004 JP 2004309285

(71) Applicants:
  • Favess Co., Ltd.
    Okazaki-shi Aichi-ken (JP)
  • TOYODA KOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Kariya-shi, Aichi-ken (JP)
  • JTEKT Corporation
    Osaka-shi Osaka 542-8502 (JP)

(72) Inventor:
  • Ito, Akira
    Okazaki-shi Aichi-ken (JP)

(74) Representative: TBK-Patent 
Bavariaring 4-6
80336 München
80336 München (DE)

   


(54) Steering control apparatus


(57) An improved steering control apparatus is provided, wherein a driver can easily operate a steering wheel while the automatic steering mode is active so as to steer the vehicle in coping with any situation. The steering control system 41 that is provided in the steering control apparatus can determine whether a driver operates a steering wheel 33 by checking whether the electric current command value I1 for the assist control is more than a predetermined threshold value K1 while the automatic steering mode is active. And, as the operation of the steering wheel 33 is given precedence to continuation of the automatic steering control in determining whether the steering control apparatus 11 is changed from the automatic steering mode to the manual steering mode, the driver can easily rotate the steering wheel 33 in a state where the electric motor 19 generates enough assist force.







Search report